Professor Dumbledore stood and the Great Hall silenced to hear the Headmaster's words.

"Professor McGonagall has alerted me to a potential danger around the grounds of Hogwarts. Last night while she was patrolling the school, Professor McGonagall was, uh, for lack of a better phrase, attacked by a large black dog. While I do not believe the dog is intentionally hostile towards humans, I still fear it necessary to warn students to be wary, even though Professor McGonagall has been successful in chasing it away once. Now, on a lighter note, tuck in."

The dog that chased McGonagall was the topic of breakfast that morning. The Marauders, except for Sirius, were trying to stifle their laughs as they listened to the conversations around them.

"Do you think that poor little doggy has a home?" a girl asked her friends a bit down the table.

"I don't know, Liz. If it's not too vicious, I'd adopt it! That must be one brave dog to go after McGonagall like that!" another answered.

Sirius liked the idea of belonging to a beautiful girl who would take care of his every need.

A few students down the other way of the table, some boys, apparently a bit less pro-animal than the girls, were discussing their own theories.

"So, what do ya think McGonagall's gonna do to that dog once she catches it?"

Sirius turned pale, and James fell out of his seat he was trying so hard not to laugh.

"But does that really sound like McGonagall?" a third boy asked.

"No it doesn't, no it doesn't," Sirius muttered.

"Nah, not really," the first boy agreed.

The second one added, "You're right, she'd probably kill it first."

No one disagreed.

Sirius turned pale once again.

"Hey, Padfoot!" Jasmine leaned over. "What do you think McGonagall will do to the big stupid dog?"

As Sirius mumbled incoherently, James, who was sitting up on the floor in attempt to get back in his seat, fell back in another fit of laughter as the other Marauders snickered uncontrollably.

"Maybe she'll make him part of a mushing team of sled dogs!" Peter piped up.

A shocked look crossed over Sirius's face. "You mean physical labor?!" he asked horrified, causing his friends to burst out laughing once more.

When breakfast was all but over, the Marauders dragged Sirius up to the Head Table.

"Professor Dumbledore?" James asked.

"Yes, James?"

"Do you think the dog you told us about is diseased?"

Sirius looked startled that his best friend would ask that, as his other friends worked as hard as they could to keep a straight face.

Dumbledore sighed, a sadness behind his twinkling eyes. "The dog may be sick, yes. That could account for its behavior towards Professor McGonagall; even in her Animagus form, a dog should have been able to recognize her as human."

The Marauders snickered unintentionally, except for Sirius who looked appalled.

"Mr. Black, is something wrong?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's just very attached to dogs, sir," Jasmine answered for him, winking at Remus.

"Sir, what do you think will happen to the dog, if it's caught?" Remus took a shot at getting a good answer.

The old professor sighed. "If it's caught, the dog may be tested for adoption suitability, and, if it passes, receive all of its antibacterial shots, maybe fixed, and put up for adoption. If the poor creature is found unsuitable for adoption, it will most likely be put down."

"F-f-fixed or put down?" Sirius stuttered.

The Marauders had to bite their tongues to keep from laughing at Sirius's, if possible, even paler face and expression.